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One of the absolutely most important issues you have to think about is - how will this affect my life? You may think that’s not important now, but trust me, how your family will react to your new career, and the changes that will affect them as well as yourself, Some questions to ask yourself (along with your significant others) are:
1.) Do I have enough money saved up to put me through the periods where I am not working/I am looking for a position. Emergency funds are especially important as a consultant. Most contracts allow your employer to terminate you at any time, while you still have to give them anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks advance notice if you want to quit. Make sure that you tailor your emergency fund based on your normal monthly expenditures - create a budget, track your expenses for a couple of months, and you will have a good ballpark of what your initial savings should look like (a good budget tracking sheet can be found here (link)). I would have at least 2 months worth of savings under my belt, although you can (if you’re a risk taker) gamble on the fact that if you’re making triple your normal salary, say $100/hour versus the $30/hour you made in your full-time job, you will save plenty of money once you get the job. The trick is, it’s sometimes difficult to land that first contract, but finding it is a full-time job in its own right, so you can’t always keep your old job while you’re looking. Be smart, plan ahead. Make sure your spouse is comfortable with the idea of a cyclic income. Make sure he or she is aware of what you’re getting into. More than one relationship fell apart from the stresses of long absences and fluid income cycles.
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Be a consultant 
